Senator Lankford Chief of Staff Nominated Assistant Secretary of the Navy

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the President’s nomination of Retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic to be the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Slavonic is a native Oklahoman and currently serves as Chief of Staff in the Office of Senator Lankford.

“Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic is the model of public service. He has dutifully served our nation in the Navy, and he has served the people of Oklahoma as my Chief of Staff. He has been nominated to serve our country again in the Department of Defense. I am very proud of his long career and dedication to this nation. Greg has been my Chief of Staff for three years. His leadership will be missed on our team, but he will be a tremendous asset to the Navy. I fully support his nomination and look forward to Greg continuing his distinguished career as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.”

Prior to Slavonic’s role in Lankford’s office, he was a senior leader at the Computer Sciences Corporation, where he planned and executed several nationwide US Navy community outreach engagements. He also served as Executive Director of the Jim Thorpe Association; and as President of Flagbridge Strategic Communications, a consulting company focused on strategic communications and leadership. Mr. Slavonic retired from the US Navy after a 34-year career, where he originally enlisted as a Seaman Recruit and, after repeatedly distinguishing himself, was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. During his Navy career, he held four command assignments, served in combat deployments to Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was awarded numerous decorations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, and Combat Action Ribbon. Mr. Slavonic earned a BS from Oklahoma State University and M.Ed. from the University of Central Oklahoma, where he was recognized with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

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As Americans, we are facing a grave threat — one that goes beyond North Korea’s missile tests, Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and the rise of ISIS. Despite these dangerous and challenging national security threats, the readiness crisis is the most profound threat facing our nation today. Our armed forces are smaller than the days of the “hollow force” of the 1970s, and readiness, in the form of personnel, training and equipment, have been degraded to the breaking point. All the while, we have witnessed an uptick in training and operational accidents across the armed forces.

While the risks posed by the readiness crisis are significant, Congress is already taking steps to correct the shortfalls. This week, the Senate will consider the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that will go a long way to closing the readiness gap. Every amendment considered for the NDAA this year should focus on increasing readiness across the services. We owe it to our troops and our nation — nothing less is acceptable.

That’s why it is disappointing — and dangerous — to consider an amendment that would authorize a base realignment and closure round, better known as BRAC. I, along with many of my colleagues, successfully ensured during the Senate Armed Services Committee’s consideration of the NDAA that it included a provision prohibiting a BRAC round. Unfortunately, an amendment is pending that would enable a new BRAC round in 2019 and, at the same time, remove the nonpartisan commission that allows both local defense communities and Congress input into the BRAC process.

Read the complete story on washingtontimes.com

E Foundation Launches Enduring Freedom Pillar
Lieutenant Governor Lamb chairs meeting with command leadership from all five major military installations

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb joined commanders from Tinker Air Force Base, US Army Fires Center of Excellence and Ft. Sill Vance Air Force Base, Altus Air Force Base, and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. The meeting coincided with the launch of the E Foundation for Oklahoma’s “Enduring Freedom” pillar and mission.

The discussion focused on the important issues facing our state’s military installations, including veteran’s health care, preparations for the next round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, installation and community relations, and the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission.

“State policy matters when you think of our military installations,” stated E Foundation Chairman Todd Lamb. “Most people think ‘Well, that’s federal.’ Well, it’s not just completely siloed in the federal government. It’s the 10th amendment: state sovereignty. State policy matters when it comes to military installations, and we learned other states and communities are being proactive in planning and aggressive in supporting their military installations. We are going to adapt and plan on doing it better in Oklahoma.”

In addition to representatives from the E Foundation, attending the meeting were Colonel Stephanie Wilson (Commander, 72nd Air Base Wing – Tinker AFB), Mr. Joe Gallagher (Deputy to Commanding General, US Army Fires Center of Excellence and Ft. Sill), Colonel Darrell Judy (Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing – Vance AFB), Colonel Lance Whitfill (Commander, 97th Mission Support Group – Altus AFB) and Mr. Brian Lott (Chief of Staff – McAlester Army Ammunition Plant).

The E Foundation for Oklahoma is a goal-driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating actionable long-range strategic planning to grow Oklahoma’s economy and improve its citizen’s quality of life. To that end, the foundation is working toward an implementable plan to ensure our communities are BRAC ready and can successfully compete with communities across the nation, our delivery of service leads the nation in supporting our veterans and their needs from the sacrifices they have made, our state leadership is aligned with military leadership on a strategic plan, and finally, that Oklahoma becomes a destination for the defense industry and the economic impact that will bring to the state.

“This is I think the first time when we’ve ever sat down with installations and discussed the issues that are particular to individual installations, but also general to all installations,” said MG (ret.) Lee Baxter, former Commanding General at Ft. Sill and current member of the E Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The idea of identifying problems on the installations that the state can be helpful in solving is going to be very productive in a lot of cases.”

“Today’s meeting was the first of many designed to ensure the state is prepared for the opportunities and challenges that accompany the BRAC process,” E Foundation President & CEO Michael Carnuccio said. “In the coming weeks, the E Foundation will host similar meetings in each of the communities surrounding military installations, beginning with Altus in April and McAlester in May.”

“Now, with the research and investigation we’ve done at the E Foundation and with this kind of high level, strategic meeting, the next steps for us are really to go out into the communities and have public conversations about the importance of being BRAC ready.”

Photographs from today’s meeting are attached. To access raw footage from today, click here. For more information, please visit www.efoundationok.org.

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WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Inhofe called Thursday for an internal Defense Department review into whether former Oklahoma congressman Brad Carson has fostered a hostile work environment in his Pentagon office.

Inhofe, R-Tulsa, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, said in an interview that the Command Climate Assessment would likely take a few weeks. He requested that the committee not vote on Carson’s nomination to be undersecretary for personnel and readiness.

Inhofe said he and other members of the committee had received multiple reports about a hostile work environment under Carson’s leadership.

He declined to reveal the source of the complaints, saying they were from “whistle blowers.”

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

Senator Lankford Provides Public Copy of Iran Nuclear Agreement for Oklahomans to Read

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has provided the Iran Nuclear Agreement on his public website for Oklahomans to read and analyze for themselves.

On August 5, Lankford delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate about his opposition to the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Lankford, who is a member of the Intelligence Committee, has grave concerns about its implications for security and proliferation. During the speech, Lankford highlighted Iran’s ability to delay inspections of suspect nuclear sites, as well as the fact that this agreement would end the U.N. conventional weapons ban on Iran.

“This is not about slowing their nuclear program – it should be about stopping their nuclear program,” said Lankford during the speech. “There is a better agreement out there. This is not about Republican and Democrat. This is about peace, and this is about trying to work out the differences. Let’s work that out together and let’s keep pushing until we get this resolved, but I cannot support this agreement with Iran.”

The full agreement is divided up into the base Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran and five annexes that provide more specific details on the agreement. When Congress returns to Washington, DC in September, they will vote on an Iran Resolution of Disapproval. If Congress disapproves of the Iran Nuclear Agreement, President Obama would have 12 days to act on the resolution with a possible veto. A two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress would be needed to overcome a presidential veto.

CLICK HERE to read the full Iran Nuclear Agreement and watch Senator Lankford’s speech.

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Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) is asking the leaders of the Senate Armed Services to look into the Pentagon’s effort to increase security at military installations following last week’s deadly shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The shooting that killed four Marines and one sailor “again raised great concerns with me about the security of our service members in and out of uniform, civilian employees, and their dependents,” Inhofe said Monday in a letter to Armed Services chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Jack Reed (R.I.), the panel’s top Democrat.

Inhofe, himself a member of the powerful committee, asked the pair to “schedule a hearing as soon as possible on the efforts the Department of Defense (DOD) is reviewing and/or taking regarding force protection of its service members and their families.” Last Thursday, Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old Kuwaiti-born citizen, opened fire at a Navy recruiting center in Chattanooga and then at a Navy and Marines Reserve Center, according to law enforcement.

Read the complete story on thehill.com

Rep. Steve Russell, R-Okla., is a fifth-generation Oklahoman, and he represents Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District in Congress. Before coming to Washington, Russell served four years in the Oklahoma State Senate. Prior to that, he served 21 years in the U.S. Army. His unit attracted national and international attention when the battalion captured Saddam Hussein. I had this conversation with Russell in his office in Washington, D.C.

Can you tell about your experience finding Saddam Hussein? I had the privilege to command Task Force 1-22 Infantry in Tikrit, Iraq, in the Fourth Infantry Division, First Brigade, commanded by Col. Jim Hickey. I was one of his task force commanders, and we had the distinct privilege to be part of the units that were involved in the hunt and capture of Saddam. There were many units. I commanded one of the Infantry Task Force.

You spent a number of years retired as a lieutenant colonel. I turned down full colonel and a Queen’s University fellowship to Kingston, Canada, for the War College. It was just time to come home and watch my kids grow.

Read the complete story on worldmag.com

Decades ago, Henry Kissinger asked if Iran’s leaders wanted their country to be “a nation or a cause” — a normal “nation” which contributes to regional stability or a “cause” which sets the Middle East on fire. The mullahs in Tehran are soon to give answer to Kissinger’s question, although expectations are that Tuesday’s negotiations deadline will be missed.

Congressional sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table after years of delay, obfuscation and outright lies. Congress will review any final agreement and vote on disapproving sanctions relief. I will only support an agreement which ensures Iran never gets nuclear weapons capability. No deal is better than a bad one.

Let’s remember that the United States is not exactly negotiating with Switzerland. The U.S. State Department recently reported that Iran is continuing to violate its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and a host of U.N. Security Council Resolutions. In a separate report, the State Department also concluded that “Iran’s state sponsorship of terrorism worldwide remains undiminished” including Hezbollah and Hamas who want to destroy Israel. Iranian proxies now effectively control the fate of four Arab states in the world’s most unstable region — Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria — and are threatening Jordan.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

CONGRESSMAN RUSSELL ANNOUNCES TOWN HALL MEETING

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Steve Russell has announced that he will be holding a town hall meeting Tuesday May 26th at 5:45 pm at Oklahoma City Community College.  This event is open to the public.  The Congressman will be available to the media following the event.

Tuesday, May 26th at 5:45 pm
Oklahoma City Community College
College Union Room 1
7777 S. May Avenue

Recommendation to attendees:  Park in Parking Lot D and enter College Union building from College Union Entry 1 (signage will be posted)

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As threats of terrorism continue to unfold around the globe, particularly through the spread of extremist groups in the Middle East, it is critical for America to show strength and focus in its dealings with friends and foes alike. Beyond condemning specific acts and sponsors of terror, our country must be guided by a clear strategy in our dealings abroad, including our approach to our relationships with both allied partners and those who wish us harm.

Certainly, the most revealing glimpse into the state of the world is through firsthand observation and conversation with our allies living in or near volatile areas. Recently, as part of a House delegation, I had the opportunity to travel overseas and engage in useful and eye opening conversations with key leaders and U.S. officials in seven different countries: England, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Spain. During this trip led by Speaker John Boehner, I was able to better grasp the gravity of the threats in the region and to our country and its allies.

It was evident that the Middle East is in incredible turmoil. In addition to the dangerous threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, there are several other sources of conflict of which Iran is directly and detrimentally involved. Clearly in an effort to establish hegemony, Iran is siding with dangerous actors throughout the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s corrupt regime and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran is also exercising undue influence in Iraq, which could easily become an Iranian satellite.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

The president has set a dangerous standard

Our nation has always, and will always, do everything within its power to bring our service men and women home and account for every last one who did not return, no matter the circumstances. Our military men and women know that when they are sent into harm’s way, they will never be left behind.

Nonetheless, the military took appropriate action on Wednesday in charging Bergdahl for desertion based on evidence presented. The nation should feel confident in its Uniform Code of Military Justice system as it reviews Bergdahl’s case and makes a determination regarding his accountability. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is critical to ensuring the rights of our service men and women are protected.

While Bergdahl will ultimately be held accountable for his actions, who will be held accountable for breaking the lawregarding the release of prisoners from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba?

In executing the transfer of five detainees from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Bergdahl, the president violated a law that requires him to notify Congress 30 days before any transfer of terrorists from the detention facility and to explain how the threat posed by the terrorists has been substantially mitigated. His failure to adhere to a law he signed places our nation’s security at great risk for the foreseeable future.

Read the complete story on time.com

Today, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) assigned Congressman Jim Bridenstine to the House Armed Services (HASC) Subcommittees on Strategic Forces and Seapower and Projection Forces.  Strategic Forces oversees our nation’s nuclear arsenal, missile defense, and space programs.  Seapower and Projection Forces covers Navy and Marine Corps procurement and research and development programs.  HASC authorizes funding for national security and sets Department of Defense policy.  The Committee annually drafts and passes the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation which Congress has passed over 50 years in a row.

Bridenstine said, “I am honored to serve on these subcommittees and look forward to ensuring Congress’ core constitutional responsibility to ‘provide for the common defense.’”          

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Their résumés are unlike those of any of their soon-to-be colleagues: one from SEAL Team Six; one a member of the team that captured Saddam Hussein; and one who worked undercover for the CIA in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

Montana’s Ryan Zinke, Oklahoma’s Steve Russell, and Texas’s Will Hurd will soon be freshmen members of Congress, but their credentials will probably separate them from their peers. This trio of Republicans, each with his own unique special-operations background, expect to use their experience in national security when they arrive on Capitol Hill next month to help reverse what they see as the country’s declining standing in the world.

“We’re going to look to move the ball up the field,” Zinke told National Review Online, referring to advancing policies that keep the country safe both abroad and at home.

Zinke knows what that’s like. A third-generation Montanan, Zinke, 53, attended the University of Oregon on a football scholarship, racking up multiple accolades as an offensive lineman. After college, he embarked on a 23-year career as a Navy SEAL, during which he was awarded two Bronze Stars for combat. He served two three-year stints as a commander at SEAL Team Six and performed duties in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. He hesitates to share details of his time with the SEALs, whose operations are highly guarded, and calls the Obama White House’s habit of leaking information about their missions, such as in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, an example of the administration’s national-security failings.

Overall, Zinke blames President Obama and his team for involving themselves too much in military decisions — a complaint registered by his former defense secretaries as well. As a result, the military and its missions are put at risk when officials don’t trust the servicemen and women in the field to make these decisions, he says. For example, the White House’s ISIS strategy, “by every estimation, is failing” because of the president’s controlling approach, such as (reportedly) insisting on signing off personally on all strikes. Zinke expects the U.S. to be in the same position in three years unless it changes course. This approach is not only affecting how the military operates, but other areas as well.

Read the complete story on nationalreview.com

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said from the Syrian-Jordanian border on Wednesday that U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State had been helpful and that he was optimistic a coalition of Arab countries would do the heavy lifting to defeat the militant group.

Sen. Jim Inhofe Inhofe says he is re assured by a vow that Arab nations would take the lead in the fight against the Islamic State.

Inhofe, of Tulsa, met with King Abdullah II, of Jordan, on Wednesday and said he was pleased with the king’s declaration that Arab nations would take on the primary responsibility.

“I think we’re on the right track,” Inhofe said in a telephone interview.

“People are looking for a silver bullet. They’re looking for something that is foolproof — no mistakes, no accidents can occur. In reality, that isn’t going to happen.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

WASHINGTON — Three wars, one special friendship and 58 years of marriage.

Although retired U.S. Army Col. John R. Burks is legally blind, the 91-year-old saw all three clearly in Washington.

Burks, who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, was among 82 veterans taking Wednesday’s Oklahoma Honor Flights trip to the nation’s capital to visit the country’s war memorials.

In World War II, Burks flew 40 missions as a ball turret gunner in a B-24 bomber. Then in Korea, he was a communications officer and artillery battery commander. In Vietnam, Burks served as a deputy corps artillery commander.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com